Liriano Dominates While Flashing Better Stuff

Minnesota starter Francisco Liriano dominated the Red Sox on Thursday, allowing six baserunners over seven shutout innings while striking out eight. That kind of performance would be good enough on its own, but even better was the stuff Liriano was throwing: the same sharp slider, the same dynamite change, and a fastball in the mid-90s.

How significant is it that Liriano routinely reached 93-94 with his heat? Consider the following average fastball velocities for Liriano as a starter, as taken from Fangraphs:

2005: 94.6mph
2006: 94.4
2007: DNP, surgery
2008: 90.9
2009: 91.6
2010: 93.4

Francisco Liriano came up as a lefty capable of touching 97. Tommy John surgery on his elbow robbed him of a great deal of velocity, immediately evident in 2008, and the lost stuff took a toll on Liriano's numbers. But through two starts so far in 2010, the Twins have to be encouraged. Offseason reports that Liriano's velocity was up in winter ball have been confirmed by consecutive appearances in which he averaged better than 93mph, an improvement of nearly two miles from 2009. Result? Three runs and 11 strikeouts over 13 innings.

Liriano isn't back. He still throws a little slower than he used to, and the slider isn't the bendy death beam it was in 2006. While he may never achieve the potential he once had, though, recent developments are nothing but positive news. Liriano's weapons are returning, and for a guy who was nearly relegated to the bullpen following Joe Nathan's injury, that's a heck of a step forward.